Delighting In God Brings Much Reward

Friends,
Don’t forget: “But GOD! But HIS WORD!” It makes all the difference for those of us who are His.

Here’s Isa. 50:10 –“Let him who walks in the dark [who can’t figure out what’s going on]… trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.”

Then here’s Acts 27:25 to go with that. –“So be of good cheer, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me [that it will turn out good –even wonderful]. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” Okay, there’s some trial to it –like the ship got all splintered up. But they obeyed God’s word through Paul, stayed with the doomed ship (v. 31) –until GOD forced them off… and though they had to go through some scary watery storm, hanging onto planks, “they ALL reached land in safety.” (v. 44)

So we hold on to His word, His hand, and we’ll come out into a beautiful, new, lovely, peaceful place. IF we’re careful to listen to His instructions concerning it all.

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me… With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.” Uh-huh! ! ! ! ! ! I can, and I do! (That was Ps. 18:16-19,29.) Are you doing so?

Be aware that if God can not delight in you, because you are holding on to some sin, then that verse can not be applied to you. Instead, Ps. 66:18 would apply: “If I cherish sin in my heart, the LORD will not listen.” And Prov. 28:9 –“If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law [God’s instructions], even his prayers are detestable.” For “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isa. 59:1,2)

However, for those who are delighting God, here’s a great promise: “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Ps. 37:4) And read this one: Ex. 33:17 –“I will do the very thing you have asked, for I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Aren’t these fantastic?! So be encouraged! And remind Him of His Word!

Here’s part of a hymn by the famous John Newton. “Be gone Unbelief, my Saviour is near, / And for my relief will surely appear; / By prayer let me wrestle, and He will perform; / For with Christ in the vessel, I smile at the storm.”

Nice, huh?

So as we face a new week, may we all “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him ENDURED THE CROSS, scorning its shame…” (Heb. 12:2) And if we are to be just like Christ, (1 John 2:6) then we can scorn (say “So what?!”) to that cross –those trials and insults and persecutions– because our joy is in HIM! As Jesus prayed in John 17:13, “I say these things… so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them.”

So the joy comes from hearing those things that Jesus is saying. And He’s saying them through “the Word of God [which] is living and active”! (Heb. 4:12) Read it! It’s an alive book! Because in some supernatural way, as Rev. 19:13 says, “He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.” Now compare John 1:1, 14 & Col. 1:15-17 & Heb. 1:2 & Ps. 33:6 and you will see that “The Word of God” is JESUS.

Therefore, for those who neglect to meditate on the Word of God, they neglect –not a thing, but a Person. Who? J E S U S ! Yes, I will keep warning of this until my dying day. ! ! ! ! ! !

But back to the faith and joy; for with it comes HOPE. Because “faith is being sure of what we HOPE for and CERTAIN of what we do not see.” (Heb. 11:1)

So, dear one, tossed by the waves: Hold on. Hold on to His strong hand, His mighty Word. For as Ps. 107:20 says, “He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them…”